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February 10, 2014

College Football Star Poised to Become NFL's First Openly Gay Player 
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A college football star and top NFL prospect has come out as gay.
Michael Sam, a defensive lineman for the University of Missouri, went
public on Sunday in an interview with The New York Times.

Michael Sam: "I'm Michael Sam. I'm a football player, and I'm gay. …
Is this a huge deal? I understand it is. But my purpose and focus right
now is playing football. I don't think I should be defined as Michael
Sam, the gay athlete, the gay football player. I want to be defined,
Michael Sam, for being a great person and have great character. You
know, I probably may be the first, but I won't be the last. And I think
only good things is gonna come from this."

Sam was a first-team All-American and the Southeastern Conference's
defensive player for the year as a lineman for the University of
Missouri. He is expected to be selected in the early rounds of May's NFL
draft, which would make him the NFL's first openly gay athlete.

 

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